Free Republic

Relocation of 700 troops from Somalia reverses administration course; move follows troop cuts in Iraq, Afghanistan President Trump ordered the Pentagon to pull nearly all U.S. troops out of Somalia, where for 13 years they have been fighting a low-intensity battle against the local al Qaeda affiliate, al-Shabaab, U.S. officials said. The roughly 700 troops stationed in Somalia would move to bases in Kenya and Djibouti and enter Somalia to conduct shorter counterterrorism missions against al-Shabaab, as well as a smaller force of Islamic State militants. The American troops are expected to leave the country by early next year, the...

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo sealed a defense cooperation deal Saturday with Polish officials that will pave the way to deploy more American troops to Poland. Pompeo, in Warsaw at the end of a four-nation tour of central and eastern Europe, signed the deal with Polish Defense Minister Mariusz Błaszczak that sets out the legal framework for the additional troops. “This is going to be an extended guarantee: a guarantee that in case of a threat our soldiers are going to stand arm-in-arm,” Poland’s President Andrzej Duda said during the signing ceremony. “It will also serve to increase the...

Why are we in Afghanistan? Opening schools? Way to kill off our best and brightest? News certainly not on every night like it would be if there were a Republican president. What is the end game?

WASHINGTON — Two hundred and seven years after their deaths, 13 of the Navy’s first fallen heroes this week came closer than ever to returning home from the shores of Tripoli — thanks in part to the efforts of two veterans’ advocates from Western New York. But then Sen. John McCain got in the way.

FORT LEWIS, Wash., July 8 (Reuters) - U.S. Defense Secretary Robert Gates said on Tuesday he expected to pull more U.S. troops from Iraq as local security forces improve, downplaying calls from Baghdad for a firm withdrawal deadline. "As the Iraqi security forces get stronger and get better then we would be able to continue drawing down our troops in the future," Gates told reporters during a visit to the Fort Lewis Army base in Washington state. The Pentagon chief stressed any decision to withdraw would be based on the ability of Iraqi troops to take responsibility for security and...

Three men knelt on the street in front of Dale Hale. Their bodies were shrouded in sand-colored jumpsuits and burlap sacks covered their heads. The chains around their necks were clipped to black leashes that they held in their hands and offered to passersby. “Take the leash!” they shouted through the sacks. “Does this make you sick to your stomach? It should, because people are being tortured!” The startling display of anger at the war in Iraq drew a crowd quickly. The group of protesters, which was made up of sign-wielding students and Norman residents as well as the hooded...

MIDI - FOR WHAT IT'S WORTH There's something happening here Get the pretzels and nice frosty beer Grab your keyboard, get ready to post Let us have a DemocRAT roast (HA-HA-HA-HA-HA) Look, moonbats everywhere...between both their ears is only air Today they take to the street First some speeches, oh boy, what a treat C-SPAN shows these fools to everyone Spewing beer through our nose is fun (HA-HA-HA-HA-HA) Look, moonbats everywhere...between both their ears is only air Look, moonbats everywhere...between both their ears is only air Ramsey, come kiss my behind Stuck on stupid is being too kind What...